On Monday 16 October 2017 the Council adopted the EU Annual Report on Human Rights And Democracy in the World in 2016.

2016 was a challenging year for human rights and democracy, with a shrinking space for civil society and complex humanitarian and political crises emerging. In this context, the European Union showed leadership and remained strongly committed to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world.

Only 15 countries worldwide have three essential national policies that support families with young children – UNICEF

New report says around 85 million children under five live in 32 countries that do not offer families two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and adequate paid parental leave – three critical policies to support children’s early brain development

This website allows you to explore how different scenarios of global greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change could change the geography of food insecurity in developing and least-developed countries. By altering the levels of future global greenhouse gas emissions and/or the levels of adaptation, you can see how vulnerability to food insecurity changes over time, and compare and contrast these different future scenarios with each other and the present day.

The map below shows asylum applications by under age 18 year olds and gender. Darker colours mean more people have applied in a certain country. Use the slider to select a year or the drop down menus below to display data for different age groups or different home countries.

Flood and landslide threats will continue after Matthew hit the Hispaniola region hard

Africa Weather Hazards

Prolonged heavy rainfall during the season throughout the Niger River basin has triggered flooding and inundation along the Niger River in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. Seasonal Inundation is also expected to be greater than it has been for many years across the inner Niger delta in Mali

Increased rainfall unlikely to overcome deficits in Central America, Hispaniola, and parts of West Africa

Africa Weather Hazards

A slightly delayed start to the season with sporadic light rains in recent weeks has resulted in abnormal dryness for Gambia and central areas of Senegal. Dry ground conditions have led to delayed planting and have negatively impacted livestock health.

In response to the severity of the food
crisis and the need for prompt action, the World Bank Group set up the
Global Food Crisis Response Program (GFRP) in May 2008 to provide immediate
relief to countries hard hit by food high prices. The Bank response has
been articulated in coordination with the United Nations' High-Level Task
Force on food security.

"The number of people threatened by
natural disasters had increased by three times over the last 30 years and
the number of people affected by natural disasters doubled every 10 years.
Tens of millions of people had been affected this year by floods in countries
all over the world. The link between the increase in disasters and climate
change, which had been predicted by scientists, was unmistakable. Also,
more people were now living in exposed areas. Some of the biggest cities
in the world were built in disaster zones.

Louis Michel, the European Commissioner
for Development and Humanitarian Aid and Josette Sheeran, Executive Director
of the World Food Programme (WFP) jointly warned that "climate change
is an increasing threat to development and humanitarian relief efforts"
during WFP's Executive Board meeting today.

Mr. Michel, who is in Rome to address
WFP's Executive Board, said: "The recent spate of weather-related
disasters across the globe sets the alarm bells ringing.

As the end of 2007 nears, the number
of people the World Food Programme is seeking to support has risen to 83
million. The amount of food assistance required to assist these people
is valued at US$3.4 billion. Considering resources mobilized thus far in
2007, the current level of funding falls short by some US$653 million.

Additional resources amounting to approximately
US$800 million are required before the end of 2007 to ensure uninterrupted
food aid deliveries for ongoing activities.